Merced Organizing Project

For Fiscal Year 2014-2015, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development provided a $50,000 grant to the Merced Organizing Project (MOP) through the diocese of Fresno, California.

Summary of Problems

• MOP’s Community Organizer is a homosexuality activist
• MOP is working with Planned Parenthood in a join healthcare project to “identify existing preventive service options and existing models used to provide these services.”

Page 7 of the CCHD’s grants list for 2014-2015 identifies the Merced Organizing Project as having a received a $50,000 grant for “healthcare.”  But the organization is clearly deeply flawed as its primary worker is a homosexuality activist.  Additionally, MOP is working with Planned Parenthood on a health care program with highly questionable goals.  More information is needed on this, but if Planned Parenthood is involved in the planning of the project, it seems that an organization receiving Catholic funds should have nothing to do with it.

MOP’s staffed Community Organizer is a UC Berkeley graduate named Crisantema Gallardo.

Gallardo’s facebook page identifies her work as a community organizer with MOP.

Among her “likes” on facebook are “San Diego Trans Pride” and “Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project.”

Gallardo is also a member of a homosexuality activism group on facebook that is attempting to “unify the LGBT movement in Merced.”

But Gallardo’s homosexualist activism isn’t limited to facebook.  She is also a member of a group called “San Diego Gay and Lesbian News.”

While a student at UC Berkeley, Gallardo was active on a google group, promoting homosexualist activism.  What follows are a series of screen captures from messages she sent out:

Gallardo forwarded this message promoting an event celebrating homosexuality.

Gallardo forwarded on this message promoting the screening of a film that celebrates the idea that people can have both male and female natures, calling them “two spirit.”

Gallardo forwarded on this message, promoting “Transgender Awareness Week.”

It’s perfectly clear that the primary person in charge of community organizing for MOP is ideologically opposed to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.  In light of this, it should be no surprise that Gallardo is also the same person representing MOP on a collaborative project with Planned Parenthood to “identify existing preventive service options and existing models used to provide these services.”

CaLAPH’s parent organization, the Center for Health Leadership and Practice, states that the mission of CaLAPH is to train “teams across California to address social determinants of health and to work towards health in all policies in their community.”

According to a powerpoint presentation created by the Merced team, the preventative services being discussed include “preventative services for women, including pregnant women.”  With Planned Parenthood involved, it is difficult to see this not including either contraception or abortion, or both.

Conclusion

As has been demonstrated, the primary organizer for MOP is a homosexuality activist, and is representing MOP on a team of community groups, including Planned Parenthood, investigating how to integrate “preventative services” into their community through the Affordable Care Act.  Given that Planned Parenthood is a part of the project, it is not unreasonable to suspect that abortion and/or contraception are a part of the equation.  Given this information, it is hard to imagine that this organization is worthy of Catholic funds, especially for “healthcare.”